LeBron's Buzzer-Beater Pushes Heat Past Pacers in OT

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- Who has help defense on Lebron?...Apparently nobody.

With two seconds left in overtime, LeBron James caught the inbounds pass quickly made his way around Paul George where he found himself with a clear path to the game wining layup, as the Miami Heat topped the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in overtime of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday.

LeBron finished the game with his ninth career playoff triple-double scoring 30 points, grabbing 10 boards and dishing out 10 assists.

Still, the talk after the game was about a man who wasn't in the game.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel pulled 7-foot-2, 280 pound center Roy Hibbert for the final play. Hibbert's presence in the lane could have at least made it difficult for James to score.

Vogel says Chris Bosh's offensive ability is why he chose to sit the big man.

"If Roy were in the game he probably would have been a first or second option (Bosh)," Vogel said when explaining why Hibbert wasn't in the game. "If it didn't come to LeBron, or if LeBron one bounced it and drew Roy to the rim to have Bosh spot it up. It's the dilemma that they present. Obviously with the way it worked out it would have been better to have Roy in the game."

Paul George scored 27 points in the loss, and hit three key free throws to give the Pacers a one point lead before James hit the winning shot.

Game 2 is Friday night in Miami. Tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

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Heat Eliminate Banged Up Bulls

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- It was a tough series, but the Miami Heat are moving on.

LeBron James scored 23 points, Dwayne Wade added 18 and the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls 94-91 in Miami on Wednesday night to close out their second-round series in five games.

"We gave it everything we had," James said. "I have no energy left."

The Bulls had an 11-point second-half lead when Wade went back into the locker room for some quick treatment on his ailing right knee.  He came back in and helped the Heat outscore the Bulls 25-14 to advance to their third-straight Eastern Conference finals.

Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 26 points and 14 rebounds.  The Bulls were once again without three of their top players, and they still found a way to advance to the second-round of the playoffs.  Guards Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich, and forward Luol Deng were all out with various injuries.  Rose hasn't played since last April when he tore his ACL.

"Obviously we're disappointed in losing the series," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But I was never disappointed in our team. I thought our team fought hard all year long. There was no quit in them."

The Bulls blew out the Heat in Game 1 of the series, before Miami won four straight.  They are 45-3 in their last 48 games overall.

The Bulls will face the winner of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

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Bulls' Tom Thibodeau Fined $35 K

Christopher Trotman/Getty Images(DEERFIELD, Ill.) -- Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has been fined $35,000 for his postgame comments about the Game 3 officiating.

"I see how things are going, I watch very closely," Thibodeau said after the game. "We're not going to get calls, that's reality."

Thibodeau was asked again on Sunday about the officiating before the fine was placed, and said that he was focused on Game 4.

Nazr Mohammed was ejected on Saturday night after pushing LeBron James, but Thibodeau believed James was acting.

"I don't think it warranted an ejection. I understand a flagrant foul, I understand that, but ejection, no, nope," he continued.

Miami leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Chicago on Monday.

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Heat Hold Off Bulls, 104-94

Christopher Trotman/Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- The Miami Heat took back home court advantage with a 104-94 victory over the Bulls on Friday night.  Miami now leads the series 2-1.

LeBron James scored 25 points and Chris Bosh added 20 points with 19 rebounds in the win.  Norris Cole added 18 off the bench.

"For (Bosh) to have 19 rebounds, and for Norris to come off the bench and defend the way he did against Nate and also contribute offensively -- a big-time drive in the fourth and a big-time 3 as well," James said. "Those two guys were the reason we won the game."

Carlos Boozer scored 21 points in the loss.

The Bulls will have a chance to even up the series on Monday.

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Heat Blast Bulls to Tie Series at One

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- If you thought the Miami Heat were in trouble after its game one performance, you probably don't think that way anymore.

Six Heat players scored in double figures as Miami made up for its Game 1 defeat by destroying the Chicago Bulls 115-78 Wednesday night.

The series is now tied at one.

"These games are going to be tough," Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who had 15 points and five assists, said. "The Chicago Bulls are at team that won't make it easy on you at all. You have to fight for every win. I thought we did a good job of just coming out at the beginning of the game and just setting the tone."

Actually, the game was close in the first quarter, with the Heat only leading by five when it ended. After that things changed. The Heat led by fourteen at the half and 29 at the end of the third. It was the largest margin of victory for the Heat in its postseason history and it was the Bulls largest margin of defeat in their history.

Ray Allen led all players with 21 points and LeBron James had 19 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

Marco Belinelli had 13 points and six assists in the loss.

Game 3 is Friday in Chicago. Tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern.

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Bulls Stun Heat in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Semifinals

Chris Trotman/Getty Images(MIAMI) --  The Chicago Bulls continue to shock the basketball world.

Coming off a Game 7 win over Brooklyn and playing without Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls went into Miami and stunned the Heat 93-86 to take a 1-0 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.

Nate Robinson scored 27 points while Jimmy Butler added 21 points and 14 rebounds.

"I've played on some tough teams," Robinson said. "But this one, there's something a little different, something special about this group.

The Bulls were down seven points midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 10-0 run in the final two minutes to close it out.

LeBron James was held to just two points in the first half, but finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.  Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh chipped in a combined 23 points for the Heat.

"I'm not stunned," James said. "This is what the playoffs is all about. We're going against a really good team."

The Heat are 41-3 in their last 44 games, with two of those losses coming to the Bulls.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Miami.

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LeBron James Officialy Named NBA MVP

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- Miami Heat forward LeBron James was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Sunday.

"Everytime teh media asks me a question about me as a player I say I just try to be the best player on the court," James said. "Every single night when I step out on the floor and I've been, I guess, rewarded."

James has been voted MVP for the second straight year, the fourth time in his career.  Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four) have at least four or more. James also joins Bill Russell as the only player to win the award four times in five seasons.

James received 120 of the 121 first-place votes from a panel that consisted of sportswriters and broadcasters from Canada and the United States, and one fan vote determined by a voting system on NBA.com.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant came in second in the voting while the New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony came in third and received the only other first-place vote.

James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals and one block in 76 games this season.

Miami starts its second round playoff series with the Chicago Bulls Monday.

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Source: LeBron James To Receive MVP

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Miami Heat forward LeBron James will be named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Sunday, according to league sources.

James has been voted MVP for the second straight year and will now have four MVP trophies to his name.  Only Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain have at least four or more.

"He's earned it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said on Friday. "He's having an even more historic season than he's had the last two years. Most people probably didn't think he could go to a higher level after last season, yet he reinvented himself to show that he could. Our pinch-ourselves moment was when we signed him. But since we've had him, we don't take him for granted."

James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals and one block in 76 games this season.

Miami awaits the winner of the New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls series.

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Heat Finish Off Sweep of Bucks, 88-77

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(MILWAUKEE, WI) --  No Dwayne Wade?  No problem.

LeBron James scored 30 points to lead the Miami Heat to an 88-77 series-clinching victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

The Heat got their first playoff sweep in the Big Three era and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"It was our next big step as far as our growth," James said. "It's so hard to win on the road in the playoffs, in someone's building -- especially when someone is playing for their last life. It's a big step for us.

Ray Allen added 16 points off the bench, while Chris Bosh chipped in 10 points and five boards.

Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 21 points.

"They had the whole package," Bucks coach Jim Boylan said. "When you can afford to sit a guy like Dwyane Wade and perform at the level they performed at, that's a championship-caliber team."

The Heat will play the winner of the Brooklyn-Chicago series in the next round.

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Ray Allen Makes History in Heat's Playoff Victory Over Bucks

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images(MILWAUKEE) -- Ray Allen helped the Miami Heat win a playoff game and made history on the way.

Allen scored a game high 23 points, and also broke Reggie Miller's career playoff record for most 3-pointers made, as the Heat topped the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday. Miami now leads the best-of-seven first round playoff series 3-0.

Allen's big night came on a night when Heat guard Dwyane Wade shot 1-of-12 from the field.

"That's been are calling card all year," Allen said when asked about having a big game when Wade didn't. "We have so many guys sitting on the bench that are so productive when they get in the game. Whether you've played the last game or the last two or three games, you get in for two minutes and guys come off the bench and are ready."

LeBron James had 22 points and Chris Bosh added 16 for the Heat, who will be looking for their first playoff sweep since the "Big Three" teamed up in Miami.

Bradon Jennings and Larry Sanders each had 16 points in the loss.

Game 4 is Sunday in Milwaukee. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 PM Eastern time.

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